Who are we?

Mixed United is a South Lanarkshire group dedicated to delivering information,
support, and a safe haven for teens and young adults within the local area whom may identify as LGBTI.

Using the menu on the side bar, you will find more about
some of the groups that support our cause, and also important information that we think young adults and attendee's of the group may need to know. This information will
hopefully keep them safe and knowledgable about some of the dangers and challenges they might face, being LGBTI.

What we do

Many Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) young people are strong, determined and happy with themselves, but everyone finds it tough sometimes,
and it's important to get the right kind of support when you need it. LGBT young people can be affected by all the same problems as other young people.

In 2011 a group of LGBT young people approached Universal Connections staff as they wanted a LGBT safe space outwith all other groups. The group was established in September 2011.
Group meetings are varied in topic but have included baking classes, assertiveness skills, film nights, health and planning for ‘Pride’ or residential trips away as well as drop
in evenings.

The purpose of the group is to provide a safe space where LGBT young people and their friends can meet up to discuss issues that affect them.

Mixed United meet every Friday night, from 7.30pm til 9.30pm.
The group enjoys excursions to days out, cinema trips, chill-out nights,
live music acts in the centre and also information evenings from local sexual health groups.

Where are we?

Testimonials

The Mixed United group has helped me incredibly over the last 9 months.
My confidence has skyrocketed thanks to the support from other members and workers of the group. My knowledge of the LGBTQI community has expanded and my understanding has grown.

I am very glad I joined the group and highly recommend it for any other people who need a confidence boost or to find a place to fit in.

Salutations, people of the internet! I presume you’re here to learn about Mixed United, or are in fact hopelessly lost. My name is Drew, and I am a trans genderqueer kid who’s really found this group helpful. It has a fantastic atmosphere, and it’s just brilliant to be around people that understand the sorts of issues that we LGBT+ children face. It’s such a helpful environment, and I’ve become far more comfortable in my identity since coming along, even though it’s been mere months so far.

I’d really recommend it even if you feel somewhat anxious, since it really has made the journey I’m going through feel so much less lonely.

My son attends Mixed United. When he first told me he was gay, I was worried for him as I know how hard it can be to face
adversity. I found out about Mixed United from the Lanlinks website and encouraged my son to go along, to see what it was about.
He came home from his first visit so excited to meet other people who were feeling the same things and going through the same emotions as he was.

The change in him is incredible and I owe it all to Mixed United.

After I came out to an active breaks worker at school in fourth year he convinced me to try going to the group that was then called Skittlz. I thought that sounded really sad and boring to be honest but it actually turned out to be a laugh and I made lots of friends.

They gave me so much more confidence and have supported me through my transition. I love my gays so much :)

My friend told me about this group and I didn’t know many other people who were Queer so I thought it would be fun to go. Now most of my closest friends are people from the group.

I look forward to the every week though I was nervous at first to go.

Downloads

The following resources have been made available for information to LGBTI individuals.

Clicking the links below will download a PDF file of the
document, and will store itself in the Downloads section of your phone.

Glossary

LGBT+ Terms

Below we have compiled a list of terms related to both the LGBTQIA community. Many of the terms and definitions below are constantly evolving, changing and often mean different things to different people. They are provided below as a starting point for discussion and understanding.

Ally

A person who confronts heterosexism, sexism, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia and heterosexual privilege in themselves and others out of concern for the well being of LGBTQIA people.

Asexuality

Generally characterized by not feeling sexual attraction or a desire for partnered sexuality. Asexuality is distinct from celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity.

Biphobia

A fear or hatred of people who are bisexual, pansexual, or omnisexual.

Bisexual

A person whose primary sexual and affectional orientation is toward people of the same and other genders, or towards people regardless of their gender.

Coming Out

Cisgender

The prefix cis- means "on this side of" or "not across." A term used to call attention to the privilege of people who are not transgender.

Cross Dresser

A word to describe a person who dresses, at least partially, as a member of a gender other than their assigned sex; carries no implications of sexual orientation.

Drag King

A person (often a woman) who appears as a man. Generally in reference to an act or performance. This has no implications regarding gender identity.

Drag Queen

A person (often a man) who appears as a woman. Generally in reference to an act or performance. This has no implications regarding gender identity.

Gay

A sexual orientation toward people of the same gender.

Gender

A social construct used to classify a person as a man, woman, or some other identity. Fundamentally different from the sex one is assigned at birth.

Gender Expression

How one expresses oneself, in terms of dress, mannerisms and/or behaviors that society characterizes as "masculine" or "feminine."

GenderQueer

A person whose gender identity and/or gender expression falls outside of the dominant societal norm for their assigned sex, is beyond genders, or is some combination of them.

Heterosexism

The assumption that all people are or should be heterosexual. Heterosexism excludes the needs, concerns, and life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer people while it gives advantages to heterosexual people. It is often a subtle form of oppression, which reinforces realities of silence and invisibility.

Heterosexuality

A sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of a gender other than their own.

Homophobia

The irrational hatred and fear of LGBTQIA people. Homophobia includes prejudice, discrimination, harassment, and acts of violence brought on by fear and hatred. It occurs on personal, institutional, and societal levels.

Homosexual/Homosexuality

An outdated term to describe a sexual orientation in which a person feels physically and emotionally attracted to people of the same gender.

Internalized homophobia

The fear and self-hate of one’s own LGBBTQIA identity, that occurs for many individuals who have learned negative ideas about LGBT people throughout childhood. One form of internalized oppression is the acceptance of the myths and stereotypes applied to the oppressed group.

Intersex

People who, without medical intervention, develop primary or secondary sex characteristics that do not fit “neatly” into society's definitions of male or female. Many visibly intersex people are mutilated in infancy and early childhood by doctors to make the individual’s sex characteristics conform to society’s idea of what normal bodies should look like. Intersex people are relatively common, although society's denial of their existence has allowed very little room for intersex issues to be discussed publicly.

Lesbian

A woman whose primary sexual orientation is toward people of the same gender.

LGBT

Abbreviation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. An umbrella term used to refer to the community as a whole.

Pansexual/Omnisexual

Terms used to describe people who have romantic, sexual or affectional desire for people of all genders and sexes.

Queer

This can include, but is not limited to, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and asexual people. This term has different meanings to different people. Some still find it offensive, while others reclaim it to encompass the broader sense of history of the gay rights movement. Can also be used as an umbrella term like LGBT, as in "the queer community."

Sex

A categorization based on the appearance of the genitalia at birth.

Sexuality

The components of a person that include their biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexual practices, etc.

Sexual Orientation

An enduring emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction. Sexual orientation is fluid. Asexuality is also considered a sexual orientation (See above definition of asexuality)

Transphobia

The fear or hatred of transgender people or people who do not meet society’s gender role expectations.

Transsexual

A person who lives full-time in a gender different than their assigned birth sex and gender. Some pursue hormones and/or surgery while others do not. Sometimes used to specifically refer to trans people pursuing gender or sex confirmation.

Transvestite

This is an outdated and problematic term due to its historical use as a diagnosis for medical/mental health disorders. Cross Dresser has replaced transvestite, see above definition.

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